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Two is better than one, and Tahlequah football is embracing that mentally with their defensive coordinator for 2025.
Veteran coaches Cody Ryals and Joe Ichniowski are stepping into the DC position left vacant when Keith Wilson took the Locust Grove head coaching position. Both coaches have worked closely together on the defensive side of the ball since Ryals joined the program in 2016.
Coach Joe Ichniowski (copy)
Joe Ichniowski
“We’ve done this together for about 10 years and we understand really well the scheme of our defense,” Ichniowski said. “We have crazy ideas sometimes and talk each other down, and other times we’ve got good ideas and we talk each other up.”
Prior to this season, Ichniowski was the special teams coach and outside linebackers coach. Ryals has worn many hats on the defensive side of the ball, most recently serving as inside linebackers coach for the 2022-’24 seasons.
The new DCs aren’t expecting to change much on defense. For the most part, THS’ defense will look like it has in years past, with some changes coming on a game-to-game basis.
Ryals mug
Cody Ryals
“It’s par for the course; I was with [Wilson] forever and you can talk about the X’s and O’s that all the coaches do. It’s about those boys who get out there and play on Friday nights,” Ryals said. “it’s not like we’re reinventing the wheel or changing the system.”
That deep knowledge and experience was a big reason why THS head coach Brad Gilbert put the duo in the co-DC role.
“It’s [10 years] they have been in our system together and they have a good grasp of what works and what doesn’t work,” Gilbert said. “I like the fact they are eager, and they’ve reached out to other coaches who run the offensive front, looking to gain new ideas. I appreciate their loyalty. They’ve been with us for as many years as they have, and they’ve just been loyal to the program. They care about these young men.”
Ichniowski has been with the program for 14 seasons but wasn’t originally on the defensive side of the ball. When Wilson came in, Ichniowski moved to defense in a group he enjoys in the linebackers.
Stepping into the DC position has changed how Ichniowski views the game.
“I have to have a much bigger picture in my mind of what’s going on,” Ichniowski said. “I have been more involved in what our overall goals should be and what our defense needs to accomplish. That’s everything from player positions to what kind of coverages we run against certain offensive schemes.”
In previous seasons, the duo had input on the plays THS was running, but now they have the game-time decision making.
“It’s a different set of responsibilities, a different mindset,” Ichniowski said. “It’s a lot of the same stuff; once we get into the season, it will be a little different as far as calling plays and being more involved in the scouting, practice planning and stuff like that.”
The Tigers’ defense looks like it will be very solid, with key players returning in every position.
Traeven Morrison is one of four returning starting linebackers. Synjin Sampson highlights the safeties for the Tigers, and Elvis Myers and Kingston Hall headline the defensive rushing attack. There is returning talent from top to bottom with the Tigers’ defense, and the DC duo sees a chance for a strong unit.
“We returned the entire linebacker corps,” Ryals said. “We return a bunch of production from those guys. It’s all about them; they are the ones who go out there and play on Friday nights. They’re the ones who put the show on.”
Monday, July 28 starts the final week of summer pride workouts for the Tigers.
After the workouts, the Tigers will go into a dead period before starting practices Monday, Aug. 11.
Continue reading...
Veteran coaches Cody Ryals and Joe Ichniowski are stepping into the DC position left vacant when Keith Wilson took the Locust Grove head coaching position. Both coaches have worked closely together on the defensive side of the ball since Ryals joined the program in 2016.
Coach Joe Ichniowski (copy)
Joe Ichniowski
“We’ve done this together for about 10 years and we understand really well the scheme of our defense,” Ichniowski said. “We have crazy ideas sometimes and talk each other down, and other times we’ve got good ideas and we talk each other up.”
Prior to this season, Ichniowski was the special teams coach and outside linebackers coach. Ryals has worn many hats on the defensive side of the ball, most recently serving as inside linebackers coach for the 2022-’24 seasons.
The new DCs aren’t expecting to change much on defense. For the most part, THS’ defense will look like it has in years past, with some changes coming on a game-to-game basis.
Ryals mug
Cody Ryals
“It’s par for the course; I was with [Wilson] forever and you can talk about the X’s and O’s that all the coaches do. It’s about those boys who get out there and play on Friday nights,” Ryals said. “it’s not like we’re reinventing the wheel or changing the system.”
That deep knowledge and experience was a big reason why THS head coach Brad Gilbert put the duo in the co-DC role.
“It’s [10 years] they have been in our system together and they have a good grasp of what works and what doesn’t work,” Gilbert said. “I like the fact they are eager, and they’ve reached out to other coaches who run the offensive front, looking to gain new ideas. I appreciate their loyalty. They’ve been with us for as many years as they have, and they’ve just been loyal to the program. They care about these young men.”
Ichniowski has been with the program for 14 seasons but wasn’t originally on the defensive side of the ball. When Wilson came in, Ichniowski moved to defense in a group he enjoys in the linebackers.
Stepping into the DC position has changed how Ichniowski views the game.
“I have to have a much bigger picture in my mind of what’s going on,” Ichniowski said. “I have been more involved in what our overall goals should be and what our defense needs to accomplish. That’s everything from player positions to what kind of coverages we run against certain offensive schemes.”
In previous seasons, the duo had input on the plays THS was running, but now they have the game-time decision making.
“It’s a different set of responsibilities, a different mindset,” Ichniowski said. “It’s a lot of the same stuff; once we get into the season, it will be a little different as far as calling plays and being more involved in the scouting, practice planning and stuff like that.”
The Tigers’ defense looks like it will be very solid, with key players returning in every position.
Traeven Morrison is one of four returning starting linebackers. Synjin Sampson highlights the safeties for the Tigers, and Elvis Myers and Kingston Hall headline the defensive rushing attack. There is returning talent from top to bottom with the Tigers’ defense, and the DC duo sees a chance for a strong unit.
“We returned the entire linebacker corps,” Ryals said. “We return a bunch of production from those guys. It’s all about them; they are the ones who go out there and play on Friday nights. They’re the ones who put the show on.”
Monday, July 28 starts the final week of summer pride workouts for the Tigers.
After the workouts, the Tigers will go into a dead period before starting practices Monday, Aug. 11.
Continue reading...
